A 2019 live performance of Lenny White's L's Bop by the Jun Iida Sextet at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood, California. The tune is taken at a blazing 283-290 BPM in the key of E with an unusual 33-bar AABC form. Eddie Pimentel leads with a three-chorus tenor saxophone solo, followed by Jun Iida's three-chorus trumpet statement and Masami Kuroki's three-chorus electric guitar solo. White, best known as the drummer for Return to Forever alongside Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke, composed this piece in the fusion-inflected hard bop style that bridges acoustic and electric jazz traditions. The extreme tempo and unusual key of E major present significant technical challenges for all soloists, and the odd-bar form adds an additional layer of structural complexity. Kulak's Woodshed, a North Hollywood performance space, provided an intimate setting for this high-energy performance. The equal three-chorus distribution among the three soloists creates a balanced showcase, with each player navigating the demanding tempo and harmony. This recording captures the vitality of the Los Angeles straight-ahead jazz scene.
